Shark Picker Wheel

Updated: May 18, 2025

What is a Shark Picker Wheel?

A shark picker wheel is a fun and engaging way to explore different shark species. You can spin the wheel to randomly discover sharks from around the world — from the fearsome Great White to the 500 year old Greenland Shark! It’s a creative tool for learning about these fascinating creatures and the role they play in ocean ecosystems. Whether you're a student, teacher, or just curious about marine life, spinning to discover sharks adds a bit of fun to education! Spin the wheel and click the winner to find out more facts about that shark!

How To Use the Shark Picker Wheel

Simply click the "Add Names" button and type wheel names into the popup box.
Then click "Spin" in the center of the wheel.
The wheel will spin for 10 seconds and a random shark will be selected.

Customization and Features

Change Colors
Each wheel can have up to eight different colors in it. The colors are randomly assigned to each wheel segment. You can change all the colors by clicking the "Change Colors" button . This will open a color picker allowing you to select colors of your choice.
Import Hundreds of Names from Excel, CSV or Google Sheets
When you are in the "Add Names" screen you have the option to copy and paste long lists of names from Excel, CSV or Google Sheets directly into the wheel to save you time. You can drag and drop an entire Excel/CSV file or use this 'CSV' button . A prompt will appear asking you which columns you wish to import (you can import multiple columns in one go - each cell is treated as a separate wheel entry/name). With Google Sheets you simply copy the data you want to import and paste it directly in the wheel entries screen. You can also import multiple columns at once from Google Sheets.
Drag and Drop Multiple Images
When you are in the "Add Names" screen you can also drag and drop multiple images to the wheel in one go or use this "Images" button to add images to the wheel. This is a fun way to graphically show different pictures or faces on the wheel.
Vocally Announce Winner
Random Wheel Spin wanted to make the wheel as accessible as possible so we added the option to vocally announce the winner after each spin. This is optional and accessible in the "Add Names" screen.
Auto Remove Winner After Each Spin
You also have the option to auto-remove the winner after each spin. This is optional and accessible in the "Add Names" screen.
Wheel Saves Automatically and Updates in Real-Time
The wheel updates and saves in real-time meaning there is no need for a save button in any of the screens. The wheel saves automatically as soon as you update the names or colours. This means if you accidentally close your browser everything will reload where you left off the next time you open the website again.

Menu Options:

Click the New Wheel icon to create a new wheel which will reset the current wheel and load in the default wheel colors and default starting names (your current wheel will be overwritten with the default wheel).

Click the Open Wheel icon to open a previously saved wheel. When you click this it will allow you to browse your computer for any previously saved wheels so you can open them (your current wheel will be overwritten with the opened wheel).

Click the Save Wheel icon if you want to save your current wheel to your computer hard drive. This is beneficial if you want to create lots of different types of wheels. The saved file is stored on your computer's hard drive. No data is saved on our servers.

Click the share icon to share the wheel with other people, including friends, family, students or colleagues. You can share your wheel of names to any other App on your device or create a sharable link to your wheel.

Click the embed link (in top menu) to generate a snippet of code which you can insert into your own website. Only the wheel will be displayed in your website. All buttons and menus are removed to make it cleaner and simpler, so you can tailor it to your own branding.

Applications of the Shark Picker Wheel

The Shark Picker Wheel by Random Wheel Spin is a fun and educational tool for selecting different types of sharks at random. Whether used in classrooms, games, or creative projects, it’s a great way to explore shark species while adding excitement and variety.

Some common applications of the Shark Picker Wheel include:

Classroom lessons on marine biology and ocean ecosystems
Fun activities for Shark Week celebrations
Games and trivia challenges involving shark facts
Creative inspiration for drawing or writing about different shark species
Livestream or content creation ideas for ocean-themed channels
Helping children learn about biodiversity in a fun, engaging way
Choosing a shark to research or present in school projects
Educational quizzes and icebreaker games in science camps or clubs

The spinning wheel adds suspense and curiosity, making learning about sharks interactive and enjoyable. It’s a great tool for sparking interest in marine life and turning education into an adventure.

Using the Shark Picker Wheel by Teachers in the Classroom

The shark picker wheel is a surprisingly versatile addition to the world of classroom activities. With playful visuals and a theme that captures the imagination of younger students, this engaging spinner becomes more than a novelty—it’s a dynamic teacher tool for driving learning outcomes and managing participation. Designed by Random Wheel Spin, it’s perfect for integrating themed fun into your daily lessons.

Teachers can use the shark picker wheel to randomly assign roles in group projects (like "Team Hammerhead" vs. "Team Great White"), quiz questions, reading passages, or even behavior rewards. For early learners, it might be used in marine biology lessons, spelling games, or storytelling sessions where a shark character sets the prompt. With each spin, the theme reinforces content and adds excitement.

What sets this apart from other classroom tools is its playful approach. Instead of relying on numbers or basic names, the shark picker wheel adds personality and excitement to the learning experience—essential for younger students who thrive on visual and narrative stimulation.

Classroom tools like this help make even mundane tasks—like assigning turns or classroom chores—more engaging. The shark theme can be adapted to coincide with science units, reading week, or classroom parties, adding an immersive layer to your teaching toolkit.

Features of the shark picker wheel designed for classroom activities:

Pre-loaded or customizable shark names and images
Spoken announcements to support auditory learners
Colorful visual design perfect for younger grades
Auto-removal settings to avoid repetition during classroom tasks
Save/load options for specific units or activities
Embed or share the wheel easily for virtual classrooms
Great for student engagement and classroom management

If you're looking for tools for teachers that blend education with fun, the shark picker wheel is a fantastic choice. It supports creative learning strategies, helps manage student involvement, and adds a memorable theme to your classroom routine.

The Shark Picker Wheel: A Classroom Fidget Experience

Beyond the fun shark theme, the wheel also acts as a low-stress visual stimulus that captures student attention and helps calm classroom energy. Like a digital fidget spinner, the motion and sound of the spinning sharks offer students a satisfying sensory experience.

This can be especially valuable during downtime or transitions. When energy levels are high or focus is low, letting students watch the shark picker wheel spin becomes an enjoyable and calming visual anchor. For neuro-diverse students, this gentle visual break can improve classroom behavior and emotional regulation.

Students laugh, focus, and even cheer as the spinner slows—making it a helpful and joyful classroom management tool that subtly supports emotional well-being.

From lesson planning to group coordination, this wheel proves that even playful tools for teachers can serve a meaningful educational and emotional role.

Is the Shark Picker Wheel Random?

Yes the Shark Picker Wheel at Random Wheel Spin is as random as it gets on a computer and uses advanced cryptographic Random Number Generation (RNG) technology similar to that used in slot machines in casinos. Every spin of this wheel is designed to be cryptographically random and provably fair, similar to the standards expected in online casinos or blockchain-based games of chance. "How come I get lots of winners which are the same?" This is just chance. In every day life you can throw two dice and both dice can each land on six several times in a row. This is pure chance and the same applies to the wheel. Random Wheel Spin's Shark Picker Wheel does not have any memory so previous outcomes don't affect future winners. In games of chance, using Math.random() isn't enough. Random Wheel Spin uses browser-grade cryptographic randomness via crypto.randomUUID(), along with SHA-256 for irreversible hashing (used by financial institutions and government agencies).

Click here to find out more about how the random number generator (RNG) works

More Wheels

Here are a few creative wheel ideas you can use or modify:

100 Father's Day Gift Ideas Wheel
Over 100 Father's Day gift ideas ranging from completely free, creative and heartfelt to thoughtful but expensive high-end items!
Boy or Girl Wheel
This wheel offers a fun way to guess the gender of a new baby. Great for baby showers!
Gender Wheel
The gender wheel allows teachers to educate students about the diversity of gender identities, promoting awareness and inclusion.
Top 1000 Boy Names Picker Wheel
This wheel offers a fun way to choose a boy's name for a new baby or alternatively a teacher choosing male character names for a story!
Top 1000 Girl Names Picker Wheel
This wheel allows you to randomly select a girl's name from the top 1000 girl names. This is a fun way to get ideas for your new baby girl or for choosing female names in classroom activities.
Guess the Date Baby Will Be Born Wheel
Use the Guess the Date Baby Will Be Born Wheel in baby showers to try and predict when a friend or relative's baby will be born!
Country Picker Wheel
Use our educational country picker wheel to randomly generate a country. You can see the country's flag, capital city and population for every country of the world. It is a fun way to truly randomly choose your next travel destination! What part of the world do you want to travel to next!?
Number Picker Wheel
Our Number Picker Wheel is a simple yet powerful random number generator tool designed to randomly select a number between 0 and 100.
Shark Picker Wheel
Use the shark picker wheel to randomly pick a type of shark and then click the winning shark image to learn facts about it. This is a great educational tool for learning about shark species.
Wheel of Birthdays
Use the wheel of birthdays to decide what's the best birthday!
Wheel of Names
This is our most popular wheel and featured on our home page. Customize the wheel of names and use it to pick student names or use it in team building activities!
Yes or No Wheel
Use the yes or no wheel to help make quick decisions!
Genshin Impact Characters Wheel
Use this wheel to form a random team of characters (version 5.6)!
Roblox Games To Play Wheel
Spin the Roblox Games To Play Wheel to randomly pick a Roblox game to play! This wheel contains 192 of the top trending Roblox games. Great to use this wheel with friends!
Truth or Dare Wheel
Spin the Truth or Dare Wheel to randomly pick a truth or dare challenge! This is a brilliant game to play with family or friends. Once you start spinning there is no going back!!

You can start from scratch or use one of our wheels above. All wheels are fully customizable and easy to share. Whether you're organizing a classroom activity, party game, or social media giveaway, the wheel can turn any idea into an interactive and fair experience.

Total Spins This Week

Our spin counter updates in real time after each spin.

Total Spins: Loading...

Facts About Each Type of Shark

Below are all the types of shark featured in the shark picker wheel above, however there are many more species of shark in the world. If you have a favourite shark that isn't on the wheel and want it added please let us know! You can contact us here.

Angel Shark

The Angel Shark (Squatina squatina) is a bottom-dwelling species that resembles a ray more than a typical shark. It has a flat body and wide pectoral fins which help it blend seamlessly into the sandy ocean floor. Reaching lengths up to 2.4 meters, this ambush predator strikes quickly when prey swims by. Once common in the northeast Atlantic, the Angel Shark is now critically endangered due to overfishing and habitat disturbance. Its camouflage skills are legendary in the shark world.

Image credit: Shorefishes of the Tropical Eastern Pacific Online Information System. Author: Phillipe B

Basking Shark

The Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second-largest shark in the world, reaching lengths of up to 12 meters. Despite its size and intimidating mouth, it’s completely harmless to humans, feeding exclusively on plankton through filter-feeding. Its name comes from its habit of slowly swimming near the surface, appearing to "bask" in the sun. Found in temperate oceans around the globe, it can live up to 50 years. These gentle giants are seasonal migrants, often spotted in UK waters during summer.

Image credit: Shorefishes of the Tropical Eastern Pacific Online Information System. Author: Phillipe B

Blacktip Reef Shark

The Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is one of the most recognizable reef sharks thanks to the black tips on its fins. It prefers shallow, tropical coral reefs and lagoons and is often seen cruising near the shoreline. Growing up to 1.6 meters in length, it is fast and agile, feeding on small fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. While curious, it’s generally shy and poses minimal threat to humans. It plays a crucial role in maintaining reef ecosystem balance.

Image credit: François Libert

Blue Shark

The Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) is a sleek, fast swimmer found in deep waters of temperate and tropical oceans. Recognized by its vivid blue color and slender body, it can grow up to 3.8 meters in length. Blue Sharks migrate long distances and are among the most widely distributed sharks in the world. They feed on squid, fish, and even seabirds. Though beautiful and graceful, they are vulnerable due to overfishing, especially in the shark fin trade. They give birth to large litters—up to 135 pups at once!

Image credit: Mark Conlin/NMFS

Bull Shark

The Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is known for its stocky build, aggressive behavior, and unusual ability to swim in both salt and freshwater. It’s been found in rivers like the Amazon and even as far inland as Illinois. Bull Sharks can reach up to 3.5 meters and are responsible for more human shark attacks than most species, largely due to their shallow-water habitat. They feed on fish, dolphins, and even other sharks. With powerful jaws and a broad diet, they are apex predators in both marine and freshwater environments.

Image credit: Ume-y / Flickr

Caribbean Reef Shark

Found in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus perezi) is a common sight around coral reefs. It reaches up to 2.5 meters in length and is often seen gliding gracefully through reef channels. Though intimidating in appearance, it’s relatively shy and rarely poses a threat to humans. These sharks are important for coral reef ecosystems, keeping fish populations balanced. In some locations, they’re a key part of ecotourism through guided shark dives. Their sleek, gray bodies and prominent dorsal fins make them easily recognizable.

Image credit: Albert Kok

Dusky Shark

The Dusky Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) is a large, slow-growing shark found in warm ocean waters worldwide. It can reach lengths of over 4 meters and has one of the longest gestation periods of any vertebrate—up to 22 months. Dusky Sharks feed on bony fish, squid, and smaller sharks, playing a key role in maintaining ocean food webs. Unfortunately, their slow reproduction makes them especially vulnerable to overfishing. With their sleek gray bodies and powerful frame, they are both beautiful and essential to marine ecosystems.

Image credit: Amada44 https://commons.wikimedia.org/

Dwarf Lantern Shark

The Dwarf Lantern Shark (Etmopterus perryi) is the smallest known shark species, growing to just about 20 cm. It lives in deep waters off the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela. This tiny shark glows in the dark thanks to bioluminescence, which it uses to camouflage itself from predators by blending in with the faint light from above. It’s rarely seen and little is known about its behavior or reproduction. Its miniature size and glowing abilities make it a standout among the ocean’s smallest predators.

Image credit: Chip Clark/Smithsonian Institution

Frilled Shark

Often called a “living fossil,” the Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) has existed virtually unchanged for 80 million years. It has a long, eel-like body, six pairs of gill slits with frilly edges, and a terrifying set of 300 trident-shaped teeth. Found in deep waters, this rarely seen species can reach up to 2 meters in length. Its snake-like hunting style and prehistoric appearance make it one of the most fascinating and bizarre sharks in existence.

Image credit: Citron / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Goblin Shark

The Goblin Shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is a deep-sea oddity with a pinkish, flabby body and a long, protruding snout. It has highly extendable jaws that can launch forward to snatch prey, making it look almost alien. Reaching lengths of 3–4 meters, it’s rarely seen and mostly inhabits depths of over 100 meters. Its grotesque appearance has earned it the nickname “the vampire of the deep.” Despite its fearsome look, it's harmless to humans and extremely elusive.

Image credit: Dianne Bray/Museum Victoria

Great White Shark

The Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is perhaps the most iconic shark species, growing up to 6 meters long and weighing over 2,000 kg. Found in coastal surface waters worldwide, they are apex predators known for their power, speed, and intelligence. Great Whites can detect a drop of blood in 10 billion parts of water and are capable of breaching the ocean surface when hunting seals. Despite their fearsome reputation, attacks on humans are rare.

Image credit: Fiona Ayerst

Greenland Shark

The Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is one of the longest-living vertebrates on Earth, with lifespans estimated at over 400 years! Some Greenland Sharks have been found to be over 500 years old, meaning they were alive when Henry The Eighth (VIII) king of England and Shakespeare were alive! It is a mystery how they live so long but many scientists think it is the extreme cold water they live in and slow growth rate. They are found in Arctic and North Atlantic waters, this slow-moving deep-sea giant can reach over 6 meters in length. Its flesh is toxic when fresh due to high levels of trimethylamine oxide, but is consumed in Iceland after proper fermentation. An interesting fact is Greenland Sharks are half blind due to the ocean parasites which latch on to their eyes. These mysterious sharks are rarely seen and still hold many secrets beneath the ice.

Image credit: Hemming1952, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Grey Nurse Shark

Known as the Sand Tiger Shark in the U.S., the Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus) has a fearsome appearance with protruding teeth, but is actually quite docile. Found in warm coastal waters worldwide, these sharks can grow up to 3.2 meters long. Interestingly, their embryos exhibit intrauterine cannibalism — only the strongest survive to birth. Once hunted to near extinction in parts of Australia, Grey Nurse Sharks are now protected in many regions.

Image credit: Jlencion/Wikimedia

Hammerhead Shark

The Hammerhead Shark (family Sphyrnidae) is instantly recognizable by its unique T-shaped head. This unusual structure gives it superior binocular vision and helps detect prey like stingrays hidden under the sand. Ranging from 1 to 6 meters depending on species, Hammerheads often school in large numbers during the day. They are found in warm, temperate waters and are known for their agility and sharp turns. Sadly, they are vulnerable due to overfishing and finning.

Image credit: Kris-mikael.krister

Lemon Shark

The Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris) gets its name from its yellow-brown coloring, which helps it blend into sandy tropical seafloors. Common along the coasts of the Americas and the West Indies, it can grow up to 3.5 meters long. Lemon Sharks are social animals, often found in groups, and are known to return to specific nursery sites to give birth. They’ve been extensively studied for their learning behavior and strong homing instincts.

Image credit: lemon shark with smaller remora fish attached | image by Albert kok via Wikimedia Commons

Megalodon Shark

The Megalodon (Otodus megalodon) is the largest shark species to have ever existed, reaching lengths of up to 18 meters! It lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago and was a dominant predator in ancient seas. Its name means “big tooth,” and fossilized teeth have been found measuring over 18 cm. Despite myths, Megalodon is extinct, but its legacy lives on in pop culture and scientific curiosity. It likely fed on whales, dolphins, and giant turtles.

Image credit: Sergiodlarosa/ Wikimedia Commons - museum in Mexico

Megamouth Shark

The Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios) is one of the rarest shark species, first discovered in 1976. It gets its name from its enormous, gaping mouth, which it uses to filter plankton and jellyfish while swimming slowly through deep waters. Typically found at depths below 100 meters, the Megamouth can grow over 5 meters long. Its rubbery lips and glowing tissue around the mouth are unique, helping lure prey in the dark ocean depths.

Image credit: Wildlife Conservation Society, Tanzania Marine Program

Port Jackson Shark

Native to the coastal waters of southern Australia, the Port Jackson Shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) is easily identified by its harness-like markings across the body. It has a blunt head, large spines before its dorsal fins, and strong, flat teeth used for crushing mollusks and crustaceans. These sharks are nocturnal and often rest in rocky crevices during the day. They grow up to 1.65 meters and are known to return to the same breeding grounds each year.

Image credit: Pete McGee

Pyjama Shark

The Pyjama Shark (Poroderma africanum) is a small, nocturnal shark found off the coast of South Africa. It gets its name from the bold, vertical stripes that run along its body, resembling striped pajamas. Growing up to 1.1 meters in length, it prefers rocky reefs and kelp forests. It feeds on crustaceans, small fish, and cephalopods. Although not aggressive, it curls into a defensive ball if threatened. Its distinctive look makes it a favorite among divers.

Image credit: Blue Planet Archive

Silky Shark

The Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) is a sleek, fast-swimming shark found in tropical and warm temperate oceans. It’s named for its smooth skin and can reach lengths of up to 3.5 meters. Silky Sharks are highly migratory and often associate with schools of tuna. They're curious and social, often seen in groups, but are unfortunately a common target of commercial fishing. Their streamlined bodies and agility make them efficient hunters in open waters.

Image credit: travelingchels on Instagram

Thresher Shark

The Thresher Shark (Alopias genus) is famous for its incredibly long tail, which can be as long as the rest of its body — up to 6 meters in total length! This tail is used like a whip to stun schools of fish. Threshers are solitary, deep-water hunters known for their agility and breaching behavior. They are generally harmless to humans and are considered one of the most graceful sharks in the ocean due to their slender form and unique tail.

Image credit: NOAA

Tiger Shark

The Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large, blunt-nosed predator named for the dark vertical stripes along its body, most visible in juveniles. Growing up to 5 meters, it's a solitary hunter with a reputation for eating almost anything — from sea turtles and birds to car license plates! Found in tropical and subtropical waters, it’s one of the few sharks known to regularly prey on larger animals. Despite their fearsome image, they play a key role in balancing marine ecosystems.

Image credit: N. Hammerschlag, courtesy of Oregon State University

Whale Shark

The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest shark in the world, reaching lengths over 12 meters. Despite its size, it's a gentle giant, feeding primarily on plankton and small fish by filter-feeding. Found in warm oceans, Whale Sharks are known to migrate thousands of kilometers. They have distinctive white spots and stripes on a dark background. Their peaceful nature makes them popular with divers, and they're a protected species in many parts of the world.

Image credit: Georgia Aquarium

Zebra Shark

The Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is named for the stripes juveniles display, which turn into spots as they mature. Found in Indo-Pacific coral reefs, they’re slow swimmers and often seen resting on the seafloor. Adults can reach around 2.5 meters in length. Zebra Sharks are nocturnal and use their small mouths and whisker-like barbels to hunt mollusks and crustaceans. Their spotted adult pattern and graceful movements make them popular in aquariums.

Image credit: Akhilesh K.V. / FishBase

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